LA DISCOGRAPHIE DU ROCK FRANÇAIS

PAR FRANCIS GROSSE ET BERNARD GUEFFIER

This keyboardist is a specialist in making sound illustration records. He produces a suggestive and varied music, full of imagery. He uses all the possibilities of the synthesizers and elaborates and develops lots of different climates which are successively fragile and serene, calm and delicate, refined and melancholic.

FALSTAFF is a progressive rock group whose solely instrumental music sometimes evokes MAGMA (at the time of "Udu Wudu") or WEIDORJE by the structure of the compositions, its rhythmic strength and rigour, the instrumental power and precision and by the sounds and melodies created by the instruments (rumbling PAGANOTTI-like bass, keyboards in the same vein as Patrick GAUTHIER). CARPE DIEM and ATOLL also influenced this group which is fond of sophisticated compositions with elegant and exquisite arrangements. An excellent album.

ZOO's former guitarist has recorded two singles under his own name, one of which corresponds to the music of a film. His records do not fully emphasize his incredible talent as a guitarist which he was successful in bringing to the fore as a member of ZOO.

This singer can be classed in the same musical tradition as the French rock "troubadours" such as ILOUS, R. GILLY or ZACHA. He offers a soft, delicate music, which is tinged with gentle melancholy and fragile beauty. Philippe FARRE's refined and sensitive compositions are perfectly enhanced by talented musicians (P. ARROYO, J.A GARDET, C. ALVAREZ-PEREYRE, A. MARCOEUR), who elaborate and create with a great finesse an atmosphere corresponding to the expression of his poetical world.

After reaching success with a serie of whimsical hits, Nino FERRER started playing a more original music and offered more committed compositions. He criticized Society, human stupidity or talked about more intimist and personal subjects through which he showed his sensitivity and disenchanted rebellion. Nino FERRER was a delicate poet and an anti-establishment troubadour whose lyrics were perfectly enhanced by very polished and arranged music.

A mythical record which many people believe never come out. In fact, this LP

was never released officially. Only ten samples were moulded, with no sleeve, and the record was never commercialized because Futura Records went bankrupt first. Apart from its historical interest, this LP

features underground "free rock" with all the excesses and extravagances inherent in this kind of music.

Formed in 1971 under the name of YECTA PLUS BAND, the group recorded a single which was distributed exclusively in England. The group then disappeared to reappear two years later under the name of FLAMEN DIALIS. In '78 they released a self-produced single and the year after an album under the same conditions. Their music, initially influenced by Mike OLFIELD, developed into a more personal, original and lyrical music, full of atmosphere.

Sometimes, this trio, founded by guitarist Henri PADOVANI, plays an energetic and fiery music in the same vein as DNA, sometimes, (particularly on its single on which appears Lol COXHILL) it plays a simple and pleasant melody with a mellow sound.

Founded by Alain BLESING, the former guitarist of ESKATON, FOEHN offers a deeply beautiful and powerful music which integrates and combines the inheritance left by some of the masters of French music (especially MAGMA and ZAO) with the influence of some representatives of "Fusion Music" (WEATHER REPORT, BRAND X) and over which Anou BELLIARD's vocalises rise in a vocal tradition set up by Flora PURIM. FOEHN works out a very lyrical and melodious music, perfectly built up and arranged. It is enhanced by the vocalises and notes reached by Anou BELLIARD's clear and light voice. A warm, sophisticated music which combines virtuosity, originality, inspiration and lyricism.

In the early 70's, along with Catherine RIBEIRO, she stirred up the French musical scene and asserted herself by the quality and originality of her songs. Her special way of singing, her profoundly original music and the delirious, committed or provocative themes of her songs helped to establish her as one of the best and most interesting French singers of her time. Sharing her fondness for original music, unusual sounds and a strange atmosphere with Catherine RIBEIRO, she always succeeded in choosing the musical accompaniment which was perfect for the atmosphere she wanted to create and which adapted itself completely to the themes she developed in her songs. Thus she recorded one of her most beautiful songs ("lettre au chef de gare de la tour de Carol") with the ART ENSEMBLE of CHICAGO, a well-known free-jazz group which managed to bring out the best in her lyrics and the depth of her exceptional personality. Later she continued her career making high quality albums with often contestant and surrealistic lyrics and music which always remained just as amazing and forceful as ever.

Another versatile drummer, totally immersed in the music of SOFT MACHINE'S first three albums and entirely devoted to the cult of Robert WYATT, Patrick FORGAS recorded this album which stakes out in the same direction as SOFT MACHINE'S gifted drummer. Even though the record is a homage, it still keeps its own character, that of Patrick FORGAS, drummer, singer, organist and bassist who along with experienced musicians (Gérard PREVOST, Patrick TILLMAN, François DEBRICON from ZAO, Patrick LEMERCIER from MALICORNE etc) offers a rich, elaborate, inventive and very varied music with magnificent arrangements A must for all progressive rock fans.

Guitarist with MAGMA for a short time in 1972 and second half of the well-known CARATINI/FOSSET duo, Marc FOSSET, alone with his guitar, has recorded an album on which he plays a sophisticated and delicate music built around his guitar chords and wanderings. It hesitates between an elegant acoustic jazz and background music whose atmosphere is reminiscent of Eric SATIE.

This album is divided into four parts; each is devoted to a different musician: Pierre DEMOURON (ex PATAPHONIE) opens the album with a musical suite for four double basses and explores a suggestive and impressionistic neo-classical music, evoking BARTOK or SATIE. Luc MARIANNI then offers an original, fascinating and baroque music, with amazing vocals. Zex PITRON and his exuberant music, reminiscent of GONG, opens side B which ends with André VIAUD and his modern music which frequents unexplored areas between today's electronic music and music from the beginning of the century (DEBUSSY, SATIE).

This multi-instrumentalist drummer, along with many guests including Claude BARTHELEMY who is always so forceful during his interventions, celebrates an inventive, varied, powerful jazz rock and alternates energetic, violent themes, full of devastating electric ardour and fever with more calm but always exquisite and contrasted passages with a strong latin flavour.